through working here at msnbc, i reconnected with my ninth grade european history teacher, karen feign. she e-mailed me wondering if i might be the same joy ann who was in her class all those years ago in denver and that p if i was, she wrote, she was proud of me, and if not, she said she'd keep watching anyway. she reminded me many years ago after my senior year in high school she showed up at my mother's funeral just to give me quiet support. the host of this show, melissa harris perry, happens to be a teacher. but they aren't just kind people, women and men, who care for their students, do a tough job for little pay and increasingly little support. in cases like sandy hook, they are people who, if it comes to it, literally lay down their lives for our kids. so this holiday season, please thank a teacher, your teacher or just one you know. let them know that you appreciate them, that we appreciate them. and that's it for our show today. thank you to richard kim, bob herbert, liz winsted and raul reyes, and thanks to you at home for watching. melissa will be back next saturday at 10:0